Lhaj Belaid

Mohamed Belaid (1873 – 1945), widely known as Rays Lhaj Belaid, was a Moroccan singer-poet (ṛṛays) and rebab player.[1] He sang in Tachelhit. He is considered to be one of the first essential figures of rways (plural of rays), poetry and rebab players in the musical tradition of Shilha people (also known as chleuh).[2]

Lhaj Belaid
ⵍⵃⴰⵊⵊ ⴱⵍⵄⵉⴷ
Lhadj Belaid playing Rebab in 1933
Lhadj Belaid playing Rebab in 1933
Background information
Birth nameMuhammed Belaid
Also known asRays Belaid
Born1873
Ouijjane, Morocco
DiedJanuary 1, 1945(1945-01-01) (aged 71–72)
GenresTachelhit (Berber of Sous)
Occupation(s)Singer, musician
Instrument(s)Voice, Rebab

Biography

Lhaj Belaid was born around 1873 in a small village near Ouijjane, but he lived most of his life travelling in the region of Souss. His father died when he was child and student in the local madrasa. He quit study and started to work as a shepherd in his village.[1]

Lhaj Belaid started playing flute when he was a shepherd. He continued singing and playing with his rebab until he left for the Sufi town of Tazerwalt to learn more about poetry. Later, he joined a musical group where he played rebab and became increasing popular.[3]

In 1937, he was one of the first Moroccan artists to be invited to record his music for the French Pathé-Marconi in Paris.

Legacy

Lhaj Belaid was a prolific poet and singer treating several social, cultural and political topics. Some of his famous poems and songs are:[4]

  • Mqqar tlla tuga / Taliwin
  • Aṭbib (the doctor)
  • Lḥassani
  • Ljuhr (the jewelry)
  • Ṣṣbeṛ (Patience)
  • Lhna (Peace)
  • Lmakina (the Machine)
  • Lḥijj (the pilgrimage)
  • Iɣ istara uḍar inu
  • Atbir umlil (the white bird)
  • Isa ukan txmmamɣ

Death

In the early 1940s, Lhaj Belaid suddenly disappeared from the musical scene and is believed to have died between 1943 and 1948 (most likely 1945) in a small village in the region of Souss.[3]

See also

References
  1. "الرايس الحاج بلعيد .. أسطورة الأغنية الأمازيغية وباني صرْح "ترويسة"". 2019-05-19. Archived from the original on 2019-05-19. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  2. Sturman, Janet (2019-02-26). The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Music and Culture. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-1-5063-5337-1.
  3. "الرايس الحاج بلعيد .. أيقونة فنية أمازيغية بسوس". 2017-10-09. Archived from the original on 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  4. "Music Lhaj Belaid". Spotify. Retrieved 2020-07-05.


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